Display Device and Method for Manufacturing the Same

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a display device and a method of manufacturing the same. The display device includes: a plurality of display units, each display unit including one or more pixels; and a plurality of elastically stretchable stretching units respectively connected among the plurality of display units and forming elastic connection points with the display units, the stretching units and the plurality of display units forming a net-shaped distribution structure, wherein in a state that the display device is not under tension, a connection lines between the elastic connection points at both ends of the stretching unit are not parallel to a normal of the display units connected with at least one end of the stretching unit at the elastic connection points.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/353,190, filed on Jun. 21, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/616,174, filed on May 28, 2019 (now U.S.Pat. No. 11,251,383), which is the United States national phase ofInternational Application No. PCT/CN2019/088723 filed May 28, 2019, andclaims priority to CN Application No. 201810817798.7, filed on Jul. 24,2018, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference inentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a display device and a method formanufacturing the same.

BACKGROUND

In some electronic devices, the display device is capable of outputtingvisual information to a user. Some display devices are also capable ofreceiving input instructions from a user. With development of displaytechnologies, flexible display devices that are bendable/foldable haveappeared and been applied to various electronic devices.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a display device is provided,including:

-   -   a plurality of display units, each display unit including one or        more pixels; and    -   a plurality of elastically stretchable stretching units        respectively connected among the plurality of display units and        forming elastic connection points with the display units, the        stretching units and the plurality of display units forming a        net-shaped distribution structure,    -   wherein, in a state that the display device is not under        tension, a connection line between the elastic connection points        at both ends of the stretching unit is not parallel to a normal        of the display unit connected with at least one end of the        stretching unit at the elastic connection points.

In some embodiments, the plurality of display units include:

-   -   a plurality of first type display units; and    -   a plurality of second type display units respectively connected        with the plurality of first type display units through the        stretching units, each elastic connection point on the second        type display unit including at least one group of elastic        connection points which are axisymmetric relative to a center        line of the second type display unit;    -   wherein, when the display device is not under tension, along a        same rotation direction of the first type display unit, a        connection line between elastic connection points at both ends        of each stretching unit connected with the first type display        unit forms an acute angle with a normal of the first type        display unit at the elastic connection points corresponding to        the connection line.

In some embodiments, the first type display units are alternatelyconnected with the second type display units.

In some embodiments, the first type display unit includes a pixel regionhaving an area smaller than that of a pixel region included in thesecond type display unit.

In some embodiments, the first type display unit has a circular shape,and the second type display unit has a square or regular hexagonalshape.

In some embodiments, the plurality of first type display units include:

-   -   a first display unit configured such that when the display        device is not under tension, along a first rotation direction of        the first display unit, a connection line between elastic        connection points at both ends of each stretching unit connected        with the first display unit forms an acute angle with a normal        of the first display unit at the elastic connection points; and    -   a second display unit configured such that when the display        device is not under tension, along a second rotation direction        of the second display unit, a connection line between elastic        connection points at both ends of each stretching unit connected        with the second display unit forms an acute angle with a normal        of the second display unit at the elastic connection points,    -   wherein the second rotation direction is opposite to the first        rotation direction.

In some embodiments, the first display units and the second displayunits are provided alternately in at least one preset direction in thenet-shaped distribution structure.

In some embodiments, the at least one preset direction includes a firstdirection and a second direction that are orthogonal to each other.

In some embodiments, the stretching unit has a straight strip shape.

In some embodiments, the stretching unit is formed integrally withsubstrate of the plurality of display units.

In some embodiments, the net-shaped distribution structure includes aplurality of polygonal meshes, and a number of sides of at least part ofplurality of the polygonal meshes is greater than or equal to four.

In some embodiments, the net-shaped distribution structure includes aplurality of meshes, and at least part of the plurality of meshesinclude hollow structures.

In some embodiments, at least part of the elastic connection pointsformed by the stretching units and the display units are provided with acorrugated structure.

In some embodiments, further including: a signal line, arranged in thestretching unit, for a signal connection of adjacent display unitsconnected with the stretching unit.

In some embodiments, the display unit includes an organic light emittingdiode or a quantum dot light emitting diode.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a method for manufacturing adisplay device is provided, including:

-   -   providing a substrate;    -   forming, on the substrate, a plurality of display units and a        plurality of elastically stretchable stretching units        respectively connected among the plurality of display units in a        net-shaped distribution structure,    -   wherein the stretching units form elastic connection points with        the display units, and in a state that the display device is not        under tension, a connection line between the elastic connection        points corresponding to both ends of the stretching unit is not        parallel to a normal of the display unit connected with at least        one end of the stretching unit at the elastic connection points.

In some embodiments, the operation of forming the display units and thestretching unit includes:

-   -   forming, on the substrate, thin film transistors of the        respective display units and signal lines connected among the        thin film transistors of the display units according to the        net-shaped distribution structure;    -   etching the substrate on which the thin film transistors is        formed according to the net-shaped distribution structure in        order to form respective meshes in the net-shaped distribution        structure; and    -   forming a light emitting layer on the thin film transistor of        each display unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The drawings, which constitute a part of this specification, illustrateembodiments of the present disclosure, and together with thedescription, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure may be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description, taken with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of one embodiment of a displaydevice according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a connection structure between adjacentdisplay units in one embodiment of a display device according to thepresent disclosure;

FIGS. 3(a)-3(b) are respectively enlarged partial views of the elasticdeformation of the elastic connection point in the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4(a)-4(d) are schematic diagrams of adjacent display units havingprogressively larger distances when being under tension in oneembodiment of a display device according to the present disclosure;

FIGS. 5(a)-5(b) are respectively schematic views of connectionstructures between a first type display unit and a plurality ofstretching units according to some embodiments of the display device ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a connection structure between a secondtype display unit and a plurality of stretching units in one embodimentof a display device according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an arrangement of signal lines in astretching unit in one embodiment of a display device according to thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a connection structure between a firsttype display unit having a circular shape and a plurality of second typedisplay units having a regular hexagonal shape according to oneembodiment of a display device of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a structure of one embodiment of adisplay device according to the present disclosure when subjected to atension in a single direction (Y direction);

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a structure of one embodiment of adisplay device according to the present disclosure when subjected totensions in orthogonal X-direction and Y-direction simultaneously;

FIG. 11 is a schematic flow chart of one embodiment of a method formanufacturing a display device according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a schematic flow chart of another embodiment of a method formanufacturing a display device according to the present disclosure.

It should be understood that the dimensions of the various parts shownin the figures are not drawn according to the actual proportionalrelationship. Further, the same or similar reference signs denote thesame or similar components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will now bedescribed in detail with reference to the drawings. The description ofthe exemplary embodiments is merely illustrative and is in no wayintended to limit the disclosure, its application, or usage. The presentdisclosure may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited tothe embodiments described herein. These embodiments are provided so thatthis disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey thescope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. It should be notedthat: the relative arrangement of parts and steps set forth in theseembodiments should be construed as exemplary only and not as limitingunless otherwise specifically noted.

The use of “first”, “second”, and similar terms in this disclosure isnot intended to indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but rather,they are used to distinguish one element from another. The word“comprising” or “including”, or the like, means that the elementpreceding the word covers the element listed after the word, withoutexclusion of the possibility that other elements are also covered. Wordslike “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” and the like are used merely toindicate relative positional relationships, and when the absoluteposition of the object being described is changed, the relativepositional relationships may also be changed accordingly.

In the present disclosure, when a specific device is described as beinglocated between a first device and a second device, there may or may notbe intervening devices between the specific device and the first deviceor the second device. When a specific device is described as beingcoupled to other devices, that specific device may be directly coupledto the other devices without intervening devices or may not be directlycoupled to the other devices with intervening devices.

All terms (including technical or scientific terms) used herein have thesame meaning as understood by ordinary skilled in the art to which thisdisclosure belongs unless specifically defined otherwise. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commondictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

Techniques, methods, and apparatuses known to the ordinary skilled inthe relevant art may not be discussed in detail but are intended to bepart of the specification where appropriate.

The inventors have found by research that, in some related arts,although a substrate or a circuit layer of a display device hasbendability, the amount of stretch is limited. If forcedly stretched,the organic layer, the inorganic layer, and the substrate or the circuitused for encapsulation may be broken or irreversibly deformed.

In view of this, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide adisplay device with improved stretching performance and a method formanufacturing the same.

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of one embodiment of a displaydevice according to the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1 , in some embodiments, a display device includes aplurality of display units 1, 2 and a plurality of elasticallystretchable stretching units 3. Each display unit has one or more pixelsfor performing a display function. In some embodiments, the display unitcan include an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED). In otherembodiments, the display unit can include other light emitting layerssuch as an inorganic Light Emitting Diode (LED) or a Quantum dot LightEmitting Diode (QLED).

The plurality of elastically stretchable stretching units 3 arerespectively elastically connected among the plurality of display unitsto form a net-shaped distribution structure with the plurality ofdisplay units. Elastic stretchability means that when opposite tractionforces are applied to both ends of the stretching unit 3, the stretchingunit 3 can be extended in the lengthwise direction and can be restoredto the original length after the traction forces are removed. In otherwords, each display unit corresponds to a node in the net-shapeddistribution structure, and the stretching unit 3 corresponds to aconnection line between the nodes. In some embodiments, the net-shapeddistribution structure of FIG. 1 shows a small local structure in thedisplay device, and other parts of the display device not shown can alsorefer to the connection structure shown in FIG. 1 . The net-shapeddistribution structure can be a planar net-shaped distribution structureand can also be a net-shaped distribution structure along a curvedsurface or an irregular surface.

The plurality of display units and the plurality of stretching units 3adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis directionin FIG. 1 can constitute a plurality of meshes included in thenet-shaped distribution structure, and in the case of a polygonal meshhaving a polygonal shape, an entire polygonal mesh can be furtherformed. Based on the consideration of improving the stretchability, thenumber of sides of the polygonal mesh can be greater than or equal tofour to obtain a larger deformation space. In other embodiments, thenumber of sides of the mesh 4 can also be three to form a more stabletriangular mesh. In the display device, meshes of various shapes andsizes can be used in combination. The mesh 4 can include a hollowstructure to eliminate the limitation on the movement and stretching ofthe stretching unit 3 by the internal structure of the mesh. In otherembodiments, the mesh 4 cannot include a hollow structure therein; forexample, the mesh 4 includes a thinner and more stretchable substratestructure.

In the quadrilateral mesh shown in FIG. 1 , the plurality of displayunits can specifically include a plurality of first type display units 1and a plurality of second type display units 2 based on thecharacteristics. The plurality of second type display units 2 can beconnected to the plurality of first type display units 1 through theplurality of stretching units 3, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 1 , first type display units 1 can be alternatelyconnected to second type display units 2. In other words, in theembodiment of the display device shown in FIG. 1 , both ends of thestretching unit 3 are respectively connected to the first type displayunit 1 and second type display unit 2 adjacent to each other. In otherembodiments, two adjacent display units connected to both ends of thestretching unit 3 can be both the first type display unit 1 or both thesecond type display unit 2, or can be connected to other display units,respectively.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a connection structure between adjacentdisplay units in one embodiment of a display device according to thepresent disclosure.

For convenience of explanation on the connection structure of theadjacent display units, the following is described in detail withreference to FIG. 2 . The stretching unit 3 in FIG. 2 has a straightstrip shape, and one end of the stretching unit is elastically connectedto an edge 11 of the first type display unit 1, so that the stretchingunit 3 can elastically swing around the elastic connection point withthe first type display unit 1 as an axis. An angle α between a normal 13of the first type display unit 1 at the elastic connection points and aconnection line 31 which is between the elastic connection points at theboth ends of the stretching unit 3 (i.e. the lengthwise direction of thestretching unit 3 in a straight strip shape) is an acute angle. Anotherend of the stretching unit 3 is elastically connected to an edge 21 ofthe second type display unit 2, so that the stretching unit 3 canelastically swing around the elastic connection point with the secondtype display unit 2 as an axis. The angle β between the connection line31 and a normal 23 of the second type display unit 2 at the elasticconnection points is an acute angle.

In other embodiments, the shape of the stretching unit 3 is not limitedto a straight strip shape and can be an arc shape or a zigzag shape.Accordingly, the connection line 31 between the elastic connectionpoints corresponding to both ends of the stretching unit 3 cannotcoincide with the lengthwise direction of the stretching unit 3. Theconnection line 31 can be not parallel to the normal of the elasticconnection point at only one end of the stretching unit 3 or can be notparallel to the normals of the elastic connection points at both ends ofthe stretching unit 3. Therefore, the display device can be stretchedlonger by superposing the elastic deformation of the stretching unititself and the elastic deformation of the elastic connection point ofthe stretching unit and the display unit, so that better stretchingperformance can obtained.

In some embodiments, the stretching unit 3 can be integrally formed withthe substrate of the plurality of display units. For example, an edge ofthe display unit and the stretching unit 3 can be integrally formed by asubstrate having elasticity to form an elastic connection structurebetween the display unit and the stretching unit 3. In otherembodiments, the edge of the display unit and the stretching unit 3 canbe connected by other means, such as bonding or connecting by means ofother elastic connection structures.

FIGS. 3(a)-3 (b) are respectively enlarged partial views of the elasticdeformation of the elastic connection points in the embodiment of FIG. 2, respectively.

In FIG. 3(a), the connection portion between the stretching unit and thedisplay unit is defined as an elastic connection point in the presentdisclosure. Considering the width of the stretching unit itself, theelastic connection point actually corresponds to a range of connectionof the stretching unit with the edge of the display unit, i.e., thesection from p1 to p2 in FIG. 3(a). The center line of the stretchingunit intersects with the edge of the display unit at an intersectionpoint p. The normal 23 corresponding to the elastic connection point canbe a vertical line perpendicular to a tangent plane of the display unitat the intersection point p and extending along a direction away fromthe display unit, and the vertical line passes through the intersectionpoint p. For the case that the display edges corresponding to theelastic connection points are flush, the normal can also be a verticalline of the tangent plane of the display unit at p1 or p2. The locationsof p1 and p2 can be chamfered or rounded to avoid excessive stressconcentrations.

Referring to FIG. 3(a), the angle between the normal 23 and theconnection line 31 is an acute angle β₁. This means that a portion ofthe stretching unit on the side close to the display unit is arrangedobliquely with respect to the edge of the stretching unit, and a portionof the stretching unit at the position p₁ makes an acute angle with theedge profile of the display unit, while a portion of the stretching unitat the position p₂ makes an obtuse angle with the edge profile of thedisplay unit. When the display device is under tension, the stretchingunit can swing relative to the display unit under the action of thetension, and the portions corresponding to p₁ and p₂ and the portionbetween p₁ and p₂ will be deformed.

Referring to FIG. 3(b), when the connection line 31 between the bothends of the stretching unit swings to a direction parallel to orcoincident with the normal 23, the position p₁ is deformed and unfolded,so that the included angle at this position becomes larger. And theposition p₂ deforms and contracts, so that the included angle at thatposition is reduced. The angle between the connection line 31 and normal23 decreases from β₁ to β₂. When the tension applied to the displaydevice is released, the elastic action point will return to the statewhen it is not subjected to the tension under an elastic action, i.e.the connection line 31 swings away from a direction parallel to thenormal 23 or coincident with the normal 23, and the position p₁contracts back to its original state, so that the included angle at thisposition becomes smaller. And the position p₂ expands back to itsoriginal state, so as to increase the included angle at this position.The angle between the connection line 31 and normal 23 is restored toβ₁.

FIGS. 4(a)-4(d) are schematic diagrams of adjacent display units havingprogressively larger distances when being under tension in oneembodiment of a display device according to the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4 (a)-4 (d), when the display device is in anoriginal state when it is not subjected to the tension (corresponding toFIG. 4(a)), an angle α between the normal 13 of the first type displayunit 1 and the connection line 31 which is between the elasticconnection points corresponding to the both ends of the stretching unit3 and an angle β between the connection line 31 and the normal 23 of thesecond type display unit 2 are both an acute angle. Currently, a lengthof the stretching unit 3 is L₁, and a center distance between the firsttype display unit 1 and the second type display unit 2 is D₁.

When the display device in FIG. 4(a) is subjected to the tension in theleft-right direction, the elastic connection point of the stretchingunit 3 with the first type display unit 1 and the elastic connectionpoint with the second type display unit 2 are both elastically deformed.Referring to FIG. 4(b), the first type display unit 1 rotates relativeto the second type display unit 2, and the angle α between theconnection line 31 and the normal 13 of the first type display unit 1and the angle β between the connection line 31 and the normal 23 of thesecond type display unit 2 are both reduced. At this time, thestretching unit 3 will also be elastically deformed due to a componentforce of the tensile force in the direction of the connection line 31.However, since the component force is relatively small, the deformationamount of the stretching unit 3 itself is not significantly changed, andthe length thereof is still approximately equal to L₁, but the centerdistance between the first type display unit 1 and the second typedisplay unit 2 is D₂, which is increased compared with D₁, i.e., D₂>D₁.

As the stretching proceeds, the angle α between the connection line 31and the normal 13 of the first type of display unit 1 and the angle βbetween the connection line 31 and the normal 23 of the second type ofdisplay unit 2 are both decreased to 0°. Referring to FIG. 4(c), theconnection line 31 currently coincides with both the normal 13 and thenormal 23. At this moment, the deformation of the stretching unit 3itself is still relatively limited, so its length is still approximatelyequal to L₁, but the center distance between the first type display unit1 and the second type display unit 2 is D₃, which is increased comparedto D₂, i.e. D₃>D₂.

The display device can be further made longer under the tension.Referring to FIG. 4(d), the stretching unit 3 is elastically deformedunder a tensile force, and its length is increased to L₂, where L₂>L₁.And as the length of the stretching unit 3 increases, the centerdistance between the first type display unit 1 and the second typedisplay unit 2 is increased to D₄, which is further increased based onD₃, i.e., D₄>D₃.

When the tension applied to the display device is released, the displayunit and the stretching unit in the display device are restored to theoriginal state shown in FIG. 4(a).

Therefore, the display device can be stretched longer through acombination of the change of distance between the display units causedby the elastic deformation of the elastic connection point between thestretching unit and the display unit and the change of distance betweenthe display units caused by the elastic elongation of the stretchingunit itself, so that better stretching performance is obtained. Inaddition, the connection line between the elastic connection pointscorresponding to the both ends of the stretching unit is designed to benot parallel to the normal of the elastic connection points of thedisplay unit, so that adjacent display units are closer to each other,the network distribution structure is more compact in shrinkage when notsubjected to the tension, the pixel display area The pixel display areahas a higher proportion of the overall area of the display device, andthe aperture ratio of the display device is improved.

In the related embodiments as shown in FIGS. 4(a)-4(d), the elasticconnection point is elastically deformed with a greater amount prior tothe stretching unit itself, so that under the tensile force, the displaydevice exhibits an effect of elastic swing of the stretching unitfirstly with respect to the display unit. After the elastic swingreaches a limit angle, the elastic elongation of the stretching unititself occurs. To achieve this sequence effect of the elasticdeformation, the elastic connection points can be more easily deformedthan the stretching unit in the lengthwise direction. In otherembodiments, the elastic connection point can be less easily deformedthan the stretching unit in the lengthwise direction.

In addition, in some embodiments, in the case where the stretching unitis integrally formed with the substrate of the display unit, the widthof the stretching unit can be made smaller than the entire width of eachof the two display units connected to the stretching unit, so as toprevent the display device from being broken due to deformation of thedisplay unit being greater than the stretching unit when the displaydevice is stretched.

When the display device is stretched, a limit angle value allowed by theincluded angle between the normal of the display unit at the elasticconnection points and the connection line which is between the elasticconnection points at the both ends of the stretching unit can bedesigned according to requirements; for example, the limit angle valueis designed to be 0 degree, 3 degrees or 5 degrees. Referring to FIG.3(a), respective thicknesses or bending rigidities can be set at p₁ andp₂ of the elastic connection points to satisfy the designed limit anglevalue.

FIGS. 5(a)-5(b) are schematic views of connection structures between afirst type display unit and a plurality of stretching units according tosome embodiments of the display device of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 5(a)-5(b), in some embodiments, a plurality ofstretching units 3 can be connected to an edge of the first type displayunit 1. When the display device is not under tension, along the samerotation direction of the first type display unit 1, a connection line31 (equivalent to the lengthwise direction of the straight strip-shapedstretching unit 3) between elastic connection points at both ends ofeach stretching unit 3 connected with the first type display unit 1forms an acute angle α with respect to a normal 13 of the first typedisplay unit 1 at the elastic connection points corresponding to theconnecting line 31. In this way, when the first type display unit 1 andthe stretching units 3 connected to the first type display unit 1 aresubjected to a tensile force, the tensile force applied to eachstretching unit 3 can form a torque in the same direction for rotatingthe first type display unit 1, so that when the display device isstretched, the first type display unit 1 can rotate faster to reduce theincluded angle between the connection line 31 and the normal 13 of thefirst type display unit 1.

The plurality of first type display units 1 can include a first displayunit and a second display unit according to a difference in rotationdirection. Taking FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) as an example, the first displayunit is configured such that, when the display device is not undertension, along the first rotation direction ω₁ of the first displayunit, a connection line between elastic connection points at both endsof each stretching unit connected to the first display unit forms anacute angle with respect to a normal of the first display unit at theelastic connection points. The second display unit is configured suchthat, when the display device is not under tension, along a secondrotation direction ω₂ of the second display unit, a connection linebetween elastic connection points at both ends of each stretching unitconnected to the second display unit forms an acute angle with respectto a normal of the second display unit at the elastic connection points.The second rotation direction ω₂ is opposite to the first rotationdirection ω₁.

In some embodiments, the elastic connection points A1, A2, A3 and A4 ofthe first type display unit 1 to each stretching unit 3 can bedistributed at equal angles relative to the first type display unit 1,so that the moment borne by each elastic connection point of the firsttype display unit 1 when the display device is subjected to tension canbe more balanced, and the service life of the display device can beprolonged.

In FIG. 5(a), at least part of the elastic connection points between thestretching unit and the display unit are provided with a corrugatedstructure. For example, in FIG. 5 , the elastic connection point A3 isprovided with a corrugated structure. The corrugated structure is notlimited to the elastic connection points provided between the first typedisplay unit 1 and the stretching unit 3 and can include a part of orthe entire elastic connection points between the second type displayunit or other display units and the stretching unit.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a connection structure between a secondtype display unit and a plurality of stretching units according to oneembodiment of the display device of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, each of the elastic connection points on the secondtype display unit includes at least one set of elastic connection pointsthat are axisymmetric with respect to a center line of the second typedisplay unit. Referring to FIG. 6 , a plurality of stretching units 3can be connected to an edge of the second type display unit 2, and theelastic connection points B1, B2, B3 and B4 of the second type displayunit 2 to the respective stretching units 3 are axisymmetric withrespect to the center line of the second type display unit 2.Specifically, in conjunction with FIG. 1 , the elastic connection pointsB2 and B4 are axisymmetric with respect to the center line along they-axis direction of the second type display unit 2. The elasticconnection points B1 and B3 are axisymmetric with respect to the centerline of the second display unit 2 along the x-axis direction. Thus, whenthe second type display unit 2 and the stretching unit 3 connected withthe second type display unit 2 are subjected to tensile force in thex-axis or y-axis direction, the moments generated by the tensile forceapplied to the second type display unit 2 are mutually offset, so thatthe second type display unit 2 is not easy to rotate.

Thus, when the display device is stretched, a situation can occur inwhich one part of the display units rotate and another part of thedisplay units do not rotate. In order to reduce image distortion causedby stretching of the display device during displaying, the area of thepixel region included in the first type display unit 1 can be smallerthan the area of the pixel region included in the second type displayunit 2. For example, the number of pixels in the second type displayunit 2 is larger than the number of pixels in the first type displayunit 1. In this way, even if the first type display unit 1 rotates whenthe display device is stretched, the influence on the image quality isrelatively small. According to actual needs, the pixel display area ofthe first type display unit 1 can be set to be one pixel, so that theinfluence of the rotation of the first type display unit 1 on thedisplay quality is further reduced.

In addition, referring to FIG. 2 and FIGS. 5(a)-6, when designing thedisplay device, the first type display unit 1 and the second typedisplay unit 2 can be designed in different regular shapes according totheir characteristics. For example, the first type display unit 1 ismade circular and the second type display unit 2 is made square tofacilitate the arrangement of the elastic connection points. In otherembodiments, the first type display unit 1 can also be polygonal orelliptical, and the second type display unit 2 can be rectangular,circular, polygonal, etc.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an arrangement of signal lines in astretching unit in one embodiment of a display device according to thepresent disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 7 , in some embodiments, signal lines 5 can beincluded in the display device. The signal line 5 can be arranged alongthe stretching unit 3 for signal connection of adjacent display unitsconnected with the stretching unit. For example, in FIG. 7 , Thin FilmTransistors (TFTs) of four display units in the lateral direction aresignal connected to each other through three signal lines 5, and thesignal lines 5 can be provided in the stretching unit 3 or attached tothe surface of the stretching unit 3. The signal lines 5 can be formedfrom conductive materials, such as metal wires, nanotubes, nanowires, orconductive traces.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a connection structure between a firsttype display unit having a circular shape and a plurality of second typedisplay units having a regular hexagonal shape according to oneembodiment of a display device of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 8 , in some embodiments, the shape of each displayunit is not limited to a specific regular shape (e.g., square orcircular). The second type display unit 2′ in FIG. 8 is a regularhexagon. Six second type display units 2′ are arranged around the firsttype display unit 1, and these six second type display units 2′ all areconnected with the first type display unit 1 through stretching units.The shape of the display unit and the number of connected stretchingunits enable a more compact network distribution. The display deviceswith different degrees of tightness can be realized according to thedesigns with different shapes of the display units and the number of theconnected stretching units so as to meet different display andstretching requirements.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a structure of one embodiment of a displaydevice according to the present disclosure when subjected to a tensionin a single direction (Y direction).

Referring to FIGS. 1, 5 (a)-5(b) and 9, in some embodiments, the firstdisplay units and the second display units are alternately arrangedalong at least one preset direction in the net-shaped distributionstructure. For example, in FIG. 1 , two first type display units in thesecond row are a first display unit and a second display unit,respectively. The first type display units on both sides of three firsttype display units in the third row are both first display units, andthe first type display unit in the middle is a second display unit. Insome embodiments, the at least one preset direction can include a firstdirection and a second direction (e.g., an X-axis direction and a Y-axisdirection in FIG. 1 ) that are orthogonal to each other. Referring toFIG. 1 , the first display units and the second display units in eachrow and each column along the X-axis direction and the Y-axis directioncan be alternately arranged.

This configuration enables the stress on the display device to be morebalanced. Referring to FIG. 9 , when the display device is subjected toa tensile force in the Y-axis direction, the spacing between adjacentdisplay units along the Y-axis direction is widened, and the stretchingunit between these adjacent display units tends to swing to the samedirection as the Y-axis or adjacent direction to the Y-axis. At thistime, an angle between a normal of the second display unit at theelastic connection points and a connection line between the elasticconnection points at both ends of the stretching unit connected withsecond display unit along the X-axis direction (corresponding to thelengthwise direction of the stretching unit having a straight stripshape) becomes smaller than an angle when the display device is notunder tension, so that a distance D a between two second type displayunits adjacent to the second display unit in the X-axis directionbecomes larger, while a distance Db between two second type displayunits adjacent to the first display units which are alternately arrangedin the same row as the second display unit along the X-axis direction isreduced. This makes the width of the display device along the X-axisdirection less likely to change greatly when the display device isstretched in the Y-axis direction, thereby reducing the adverse effecton the display quality when the display device is stretched. Inaddition, the structure can also enable the moments borne by the secondtype display unit to be mutually offset as much as possible, so that thesituation that the second type display unit rotates when the displaydevice is stretched is reduced or prevented, and a better display effectis achieved.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a structure of one embodiment of adisplay device according to the present disclosure when subjected totensions in orthogonal X-direction and Y-direction simultaneously.

Referring to FIG. 10 , when the display device is simultaneouslysubjected to tensile forces in two directions (e.g., X-axis and Y-axis)orthogonal to each other, the angle between the connection lineconnecting the elastic connection points at the both ends of eachstretching unit and the normal of the display unit connected thereto isreduced until the allowable limit angle value is reached. Then, eachstretching unit is elastically stretched under a tensile force, so thatthe entire area of the display device is enlarged. When the tensileforce applied to the display device is stopped, the display device isrestored to its original shape and size.

Having described in detail various embodiments of the display device ofthe present disclosure, the present disclosure also provides someembodiments of a method for manufacturing the display device asdescribed above.

FIG. 11 is a schematic flow diagram of one embodiment of a method formanufacturing a display device according to the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 11 , in some embodiments, a method for manufacturing adisplay device includes steps 100 and 200. In step 100, a substrate isprovided. In step 200, a plurality of display units and a plurality ofelastically stretchable stretching units 3 respectively connected amongthe plurality of display units are formed on the substrate in anet-shaped distribution structure (refer to FIG. 1 ).

The stretching unit 3 forms an elastic connection point with the displayunit. In a state that the display device is not under tension, referringto FIG. 2 , a connection line 31 between the elastic connection pointscorresponding to the both ends of the stretching unit 3 is not parallelto a normal of the display unit connected with at least one end of thestretching unit at the elastic connection points.

FIG. 12 is a schematic flow diagram of another embodiment of a methodfor manufacturing a display device according to the present disclosure.

Compared with the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 , the step 200 in thepresent embodiment can specifically include the steps 210 to 230. Instep 210, TFTs of the respective display units and signal linesconnected among the TFTs of the respective display units are formed onthe substrate according to the net-shaped distribution structure. Instep 220, the substrate on which the TFTs is formed is etched accordingto the net-shaped distribution structure to form respective meshes inthe net-shaped distribution structure. In step 230, a light emittinglayer, such as an inorganic LED, OLED, or QLED, is formed on the TFT ofeach display unit.

The order of steps 210 and 220 can be exchanged. That is, in someembodiments, the mesh can be etched according to the net-shapeddistribution structure, and then the TFTs of the display units and thesignal lines connected among the TFTs of the display units can be formedon the substrate layer distributed in meshes.

In the present specification, a plurality of embodiments are describedin a progressive manner, the emphasis of each embodiment is different,and the same or similar parts between the embodiments are referred toeach other. For the embodiments of the manufacturing method, the wholeand related steps are in corresponding relation with the content in theembodiments of the display device, so that the description is relativelysimple, and relevant points can be referred to in the part of thedescription of the embodiments of the display device.

Thus, various embodiments of the present disclosure have been describedin detail. Some details that are well known in the art have not beendescribed in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the presentdisclosure. It will be fully apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe foregoing description how to practice the presently disclosedembodiments.

Although some specific embodiments of the present disclosure have beendescribed in detail by way of example, it should be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the foregoing examples are for purposes ofillustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the presentdisclosure. It will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious amendments can be made in the above embodiments or equivalentscan be substituted for partial technical features thereof withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The scopeof the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device, comprising: a plurality ofdisplay units, each display unit comprising one or more pixels; and aplurality of elastically stretchable stretching units respectivelyconnected among the plurality of display units and forming elasticconnection points with the plurality of display units, the plurality ofelastically stretchable stretching units and the plurality of displayunits forming a net-shaped distribution structure, wherein, in a statethat the display device is not under tension, a connection line betweenthe elastic connection points at both ends of the elasticallystretchable stretching unit is not parallel to a normal of the displayunit connected with at least one end of the elastically stretchablestretching unit at the elastic connection points; and wherein, theplurality of display units comprise: a plurality of first type displayunits; and a plurality of second type display units, respectivelyconnected with the plurality of first type display units through theplurality of elastically stretchable stretching units, wherein, when thedisplay device is not under tension, along a same rotation direction ofa first type display unit, the connection line between elasticconnection points at both ends of each elastically stretchablestretching unit connected with the first type display unit forms anacute angle with a normal of the first type display unit at the elasticconnection points corresponding to the connection line; and wherein thefirst type display unit comprises a pixel region having an area smallerthan that of a pixel region comprised in the second type display unit.2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein each elasticconnection point on a second type display unit comprises at least onegroup of elastic connection points which are axisymmetric relative to acenter line of the second type display unit.
 3. The display deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the plurality of first type display unitsand the plurality of second type display units are alternately provided.4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality offirst type display units comprise: a first display unit configured suchthat when the display device is not under tension, along a firstrotation direction of the first display unit, the connection linebetween the elastic connection points at both ends of each elasticallystretchable stretching unit connected with the first display unit formsan acute angle with a normal of the first display unit at the elasticconnection points; and a second display unit configured such that whenthe display device is not under tension, along a second rotationdirection of the second display unit, the connection line between theelastic connection points at both ends of each elastically stretchablestretching unit connected with the second display unit forms an acuteangle with a normal of the second display unit at the elastic connectionpoints, wherein the second rotation direction is opposite to the firstrotation direction.
 5. The display device according to claim 4, whereinthe first display units and the second display units are providedalternately in at least one preset direction in the net-shapeddistribution structure.
 6. The display device according to claim 5,wherein the at least one preset direction comprises a first directionand a second direction that are orthogonal to each other.
 7. The displaydevice according to claim 1, wherein the net-shaped distributionstructure comprises a plurality of polygonal meshes, and a number ofsides of at least part of the plurality of polygonal meshes is greaterthan or equal to four.
 8. The display device according to claim 1,wherein the net-shaped distribution structure comprises a plurality ofmeshes, and at least part of the plurality of meshes comprise a hollowstructure.
 9. The display device according to claim 1, wherein at leastpart of the elastic connection points formed by the plurality ofelastically stretchable stretching units and the plurality of displayunits are provided with a corrugated structure.
 10. A display device,comprising: a plurality of display units, each display unit comprisingone or more pixels; and a plurality of elastically stretchablestretching units respectively connected among the plurality of displayunits and forming elastic connection points with the plurality ofdisplay units, the plurality of elastically stretchable stretching unitsand the plurality of display units forming a net-shaped distributionstructure, wherein, in a state that the display device is not undertension, a connection line between the elastic connection points at bothends of the elastically stretchable stretching unit is not parallel to anormal of the display unit connected with at least one end of theelastically stretchable stretching unit at the elastic connectionpoints; and wherein, the plurality of display units comprise: aplurality of first type display units; and a plurality of second typedisplay units, respectively connected with the plurality of first typedisplay units through the plurality of elastically stretchablestretching units, wherein, when the display device is not under tension,along a same rotation direction of a first type display unit, theconnection line between elastic connection points at both ends of eachelastically stretchable stretching unit connected with the first typedisplay unit forms an acute angle with a normal of the first typedisplay unit at the elastic connection points corresponding to theconnection line; and wherein the first type display unit has a circularshape, and the second type display unit has a square or regularhexagonal shape.
 11. The display device according to claim 10, whereineach elastic connection point on a second type display unit comprises atleast one group of elastic connection points which are axisymmetricrelative to a center line of the second type display unit.
 12. Thedisplay device according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of firsttype display units and the plurality of second type display units arealternately provided.
 13. The display device according to claim 10,wherein the first type display unit comprises a pixel region having anarea smaller than that of a pixel region comprised in the second typedisplay unit.
 14. The display device according to claim 10, wherein theplurality of first type display units comprise: a first display unitconfigured such that when the display device is not under tension, alonga first rotation direction of the first display unit, the connectionline between the elastic connection points at both ends of eachelastically stretchable stretching unit connected with the first displayunit forms an acute angle with a normal of the first display unit at theelastic connection points; and a second display unit configured suchthat when the display device is not under tension, along a secondrotation direction of the second display unit, the connection linebetween the elastic connection points at both ends of each elasticallystretchable stretching unit connected with the second display unit formsan acute angle with a normal of the second display unit at the elasticconnection points, wherein the second rotation direction is opposite tothe first rotation direction.
 15. The display device according to claim14, wherein the first display units and the second display units areprovided alternately in at least one preset direction in the net-shapeddistribution structure.
 16. The display device according to claim 15,wherein the at least one preset direction comprises a first directionand a second direction that are orthogonal to each other.
 17. Thedisplay device according to claim 10, wherein the net-shapeddistribution structure comprises a plurality of polygonal meshes, and anumber of sides of at least part of the plurality of polygonal meshes isgreater than or equal to four.
 18. The display device according to claim10, wherein the net-shaped distribution structure comprises a pluralityof meshes, and at least part of the plurality of meshes comprise ahollow structure.
 19. The display device according to claim 10, whereinat least part of the elastic connection points formed by the pluralityof elastically stretchable stretching units and the plurality of displayunits are provided with a corrugated structure.
 20. The display deviceaccording to claim 10, wherein the display unit comprises an organiclight emitting diode or a quantum dot light emitting diode.